The UNM women's tennis team secured a third place seed in the Mountain West Conference Tournament with a 5-2 win against Colorado State University Sunday at the Lobo Tennis Club.
The Lobos (12-5, 4-2 in the conference) extended their winning streak against the Rams (6-15, 1-6) to 13 by earning four singles match points and the doubles point.
Head coach Kathy Kolankiewicz said she is proud of her teams' performance in tough conditions.
"I felt like all of our girls were having trouble because off the heat," Kolankiewicz said. "There are also a lot of emotions and distractions involved when you play your last home match as well."
The Lobos started strong, winning two of three matches to take the doubles point.
At the number one doubles position, the Rams' Sanja Hansson and Catherine Sullivan- Sauvageau outlasted Tiffany Robertson and Sandy Lukowski 8-6. Hansson and Sullivan- Sauvageau, ranked 13th in the Central Region, jumped out to a 4-0 lead but Robertson and Lukowski fought back to tie the match at 6-6 before losing the final two games.
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The Lobos' number two team of Tjasa Suvak and Rachel Hatley cruised to an easy victory over Amanda Bartz and Bobbe Vasos 8-2. Suvak and Hatley controlled the points with strong returns and pinpoint volleys keeping Bartz and Vasos from ever finding their rhythm.
Regula Comtesse and Maria Fabrega-Ruiz sputtered early at the number three spot but rebounded to control the match, defeating Alexandra Paganetti and Dasha Zhurin 8-4.
In singles action, Suvak opened with a tough win at the number one position, defeating Hansson 6-2, 7-5. Both players struggled with their serves in a game that featured 10 service breaks.
Lukowski outlasted Bartz 6-7, 6-2, 11-9 in the number two position. UNM's Michelle Heidbrink won in the number three singles position. She led 2-1 in the first set when Sullivan-Sauvegeau was forced to retire due to dehydration. CSU's Vasos dominated Robertson at the number four position 6-2, 6-2. The Rams' Zhurin outlasted Hatley at the number five spot 7-5, 3-6, 10-8. Hatley's and Lukowski's final sets were played as 10-point tiebreakers because the Lobos had already clinched the victory before their matches ended.
UNM's lone senior, Courtney Choate, put on the most impressive tennis display at the number six position. She made quick work of Paganettti 6-1, 6-2. Choate was honored in a pre-match ceremony, where she was awarded a plaque identifying her as one of eight national finalists for the Sporting News Radio Socrates Award, although she did not win it. The award recognizes a student-athlete that exemplifies the best in athletics, academics and community involvement.
"This has been a wonderful experience," she said. "My goal was to play four years of college tennis, and I accomplished that. It is nice to have all this support, that is why I am so sad."
The Lobos now have 11 days to prepare for the MWC tournament, which is April 25-27 in Provo, Utah.
Kolankiewicz said she has confidence that the Lobos are prepared for the tournament.
"This team is finally playing up to its potential," she said. "I feel at the right time, we can play with anybody."
